Inside Conservation Northwest
Chris Marx Development director,
chris@conservationnw.org
Together for wildlife
The value of membership
I was ten years old when the obsession began, and I blame Zoobooks. It
was within those glossy pages that I
first encountered the words "endangered species." It took a lot to wrap my
young head around this concept, but
once there I knew we had not a moment to waste. I exhausted my teacher,
parents, and fellow classmates with my
earnest reports, artwork, and pleas for
the grown-ups to just get with it already
and do something.
Even then, I started making plans.
When I was older, I wouldn't sit idly
by and let this sort of thing happen. I'd
work tirelessly on behalf of all those animals that needed us. Somehow, years later, I ended up in fundraising—a career
path I suspect few ten year olds would
aspire to.
In a recent fit of self-examination,
I began to wonder: how exactly am I
changing the world writing membership
letters and grant reports? In asking the
question, I realized what I intuitively
knew as a kid. Each act matters, but
we can't go it alone. We transform the
world together.
Together, our perspective begins to shift. Maybe just a
little at first, but a little is all we need in order to stop
feeling overwhelmed and start taking action.
Cascades' wolverine—Chewbacca. WDFW
22 Fall 2013
This is where our stories collide. Like
me, I suspect you were drawn to Conservation Northwest out of love for wildlife, wild places, and the legacy we leave
for future generations. We know there's
a lot to contend with out there, from
global warming to fracking to unrestrained development. Alone, it can get
downright scary. Humor and optimism
begin to fray around the edges.
Together, though, our perspective begins to shift. Maybe just a little at first,
but a little is all we need in order to stop
feeling overwhelmed and start taking action. One of my early steps in reviving
that childhood dream to make this a better world for wildlife (and people too!)
was to join Conservation Northwest as a
member. Yup, it's true! Six months ago I
began working for the organization and
the circle is finally complete.
Berry fields, North Cascades. Blueberries are
high-energy food for bears. © Eric Zamora
Membership with Conservation
Northwest is about many things. Donations power the critical work you see
described in the pages of this newsletter. But it doesn't end there. A robust
membership roster gives us the juice
we need with elected officials and other
key decision makers to demonstrate
that we aren't just a small band of idealists dreaming the impossible dream.
Members show that there is an army of
concerned and engaged citizens standing with us. And let's face it—numbers
matter.
The thing about membership that really moves me is what it does for us as
individuals to be part of a bigger vision.
I'm talking hope. Optimism. A way forward. These things matter. They allow us
to keep fighting for the places and critters we love, even on the rough days.
To win the fight, we need you. Your
membership dues and generous contributions keep us strong, stable, and moving toward a future we can all be proud
of. If you have made a contribution recently, I sincerely thank you. Participation makes a difference. If you are still
considering making a gift, let me simply
say this: we want you as part of our community. Join us!
conservationnw.org
